A Day Trip to Boothbay Harbor

One of the favorite day trips from our Freeport Maine Bed & Breakfast is a trip to Boothbay Harbor.

Often described as a classic Maine working harbor, you'll find lobster boats, fishing boats, and, of course, boats for excursions to go whale watching, tour lighthouses, and more.

As you finish your breakfast at Brewster House Bed & Breakfast in Freeport, Maine, turn left from our driveway on Main Street (US-1), and enjoy the drive through the countryside. If you get an early start, you may see a moose near the "Moose Crossing" signs just north of the town line.

Continue past Brunswick and Bath, and pass through the lovely village of Wiscasset, where you may want to return later for a lobster roll at Red's Eats, or a browse through the many antique stores, or just to enjoy the charming beauty of the riverside village.

After crossing the river, you'll come to a hill, and as you near the top, the sign says "Boothbay Region" to the right. Take Route 27, and enjoy the leisurely curves of the smaller road, out the peninsula. You'll pass the Boothbay Railway Village, where you can learn some railroad history, or ride a small train. A bit farther along is the tiny village of Boothbay. Just down a side road from Boothbay is the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, with its beautiful water views and spectacular flowers and plants.

Returning to Route 27, continue into Boothbay Harbor. Entering town, the road becomes one way, and and is uphill from the town. This can be a good place to park, as parking is limited near the shops. Down the hill are the shops - some touristy, some local, some interesting. There are also art galleries and restaurants along the street and near the water.

Walk down to the waterfront, where you'll find a small park and the public dock, where you can enjoy an ice cream cone, and watch the boats come and go. Across the water is the Lobster Dock restaurant, as well as several lobstermen's landing areas, so a good place for lobster awaits.

When you finish enjoying the beautiful area, return once more to Brewster House for snacks and dinner at one of the Freeport restaurants, then a browse through the Freeport outlets. A nice day out!

Where Do All the Guests Go After Breakfast?

Brewster House Bed & Breakfast, Freeport, Maine

Most people who visit our Freeport Maine Bed & Breakfast arrive planning to spend a bit of time shopping at the Freeport outlets and shops, or sightseeing along the Maine coast. However, as happens a few times each year, the other morning found a couple at breakfast who had no idea there was shopping in Freeport, had never heard of L.L. Bean, and didn't know where all the other guests were going after breakfast!

Where are all the guests going?

Shopping

About 2 out of every 5 guests walking from Brewster House to the Freeport shops and outlets, which begin just about a block from our door. FreeportUSA says there are over 200 shops and restaurants in Freeport, but that number belies the charm of the historic buildings along Main Street.

In addition to L.L. Bean's campus, which includes four of its stores (all four of these are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week), most of the shops and restaurants are located in historic buildings, dating to the late 1800's. Even the McDonalds in Freeport is in a house that dates back before 1870. In the midst of all this is Freeport Village Station, which is a modern collection of shops and eateries, built to blend in with the historic buildings around it, and which included the L.L. Bean Outlet, which is the only L.L. Bean store that closes.

Sightseeing

Most of the rest of our guests leave quickly after breakfast to cover as much ground as possible, as they have planned sightseeing trips for the day that will take them to as many as eight lighthouses, at least three beaches, hiking in one of at least five state parks, or even all the way to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park (now that is really a full day of sightseeing!). Our lighthouse map can help you find your way to the Maine lighthouses.

Lobster

Red's Eats, Wiscasset

Some of our guests just can't get enough lobster while they're in Maine (imagine that)!

In addition to Freeport's own lobster shack on the South Freeport dock, Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster, they will drive south to Kennebunkport to try the Clam Shack (reknowned for its lobster rolls), or north to Wiscasset to sample the rolls at Red's Eats. Still others will visit Five Islands Lobster Shack, or head for Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, followed by a side trip to Shaws Lobster in New Harbor, or Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse and Two Lights Lobster Shack. Of course, we have a map of Maine lobster shacks, too.

Whatever your interest (and tastes), nearly all our first-time visitors (and more than a few of our returning guests) find that there is more to do than they can possibly fit into just a couple of days. They leave anxious to plan their next visit to Freeport, Maine!

Breakfast today at Brewster House

Today's breakfast started with a fresh fruit parfait with our homemade granola and a selection of apple bread or blueberry coffee cake, then our egg strudel on a bed of fresh baby spinach, rosemary roasted potatoes and sausage. Very popular!

Lobster Lover's Guide to Freeport Maine Restaurants

Two years ago we created our Map of Maine Lobster Shacks in response to Travel + Leisure's list of the 10 Best Lobster Shacks in Maine. We thought they had overlooked some good ones, so we added them. Our readers agreed, and suggested some more, which we have also added.

View Favorite Lobster Shacks
(and similar spots) in a larger map

More recently, some of our guests at our Freeport Maine Bed & Breakfast have categorically stated that they were here to eat lobster. Lobster for every meal (except breakfast, as they eat that at Brewster House, of course). Lobster in every way they can find it. So, where to go?

Freeport Restaurants

Freeport's Economic Development office lists 33 restaurants. That is certainly more than we can cover in one blog post, but the truth is, nearly all of them serve lobster in one form or another, whether a traditional whole lobster dinner, a lobster roll, lobster stew, lobster bisque, or something more exotic.

Lobster rolls can be found at McDonalds (yes, McDonalds), as well as several other restaurants, including the Corsican Restaurant, the Broad Arrow Tavern, the Freeport Chowder House, and the Lobster Cooker,

The Freeport Chowder House also has lobster cakes (like crab cakes, but different).

Many places, including Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster, at the South Freeport wharf, have a full lobster dinner, featuring the traditional steamed whole lobster. Jameson Tavern offers this, and several fairly traditional lobster formulas, like lobster tail, steak & lobster, lobster with chowder and steamed clams, and a lazy man's lobster (all the work of shelling it is done for you). Lobster Alfredo can be found at Petrillo's.

One of Freeport's newest restaurants is Linda Bean's Maine Kitchen and Topside Tavern. Linda is the granddaughter of legendary L.L. Bean. Her restaurant offers a variety of Maine seafood, including several lobster dishes.

You'll find lobster salad at the Corsican Restaurant and the Muddy Rudder (which also offers lobster crepes, and whole lobster).

For lobster stew try the Broad Arrow Tavern at the Harraseeket Inn, or the Corsican Restaurant. Lobster Cooker also has a lobster chowder and a lobster bisque.

Lobster pizza is available at Antonias Pizzeria, the Freeport Chowder House, and the Corsican Restaurant.

The Maine Dining Room at the Harraseeket Inn features several lobster dishes this summer, including Lobster Spring Roll, Lobster Crepe, Lobster Stew, Lobster and Spinach Fetuccini, and Steamed Lobster.

But perhaps the most variety, all with their usual outstanding quality and flavorful sauces, is Azure Cafe (home to the 2010 Maine Lobster Chef of the Year), who has lobster salad, a lobster version of their Seafood Risotto and also their Sicilian Style Cioppino, a full steamed lobster dinner (they guarantee the best price in town), a lobster Fetuccini Alfredo, and a Lobster Scampi.

Nearby

Of course, if you still need more variety, the many and varied restaurants of Portland are only a short drive away, and just beyond is Kennebunkport, Wells, and Kittery, while to the north are several great lobster shacks, such as Shaws in New Harbor, Five Islands Lobster Shack on Georgetown Island, and many, many more!

Red, white and blueberries!

Happy birthday, America!

Today's breakfast celebrates America's birth with red, white & blueberry stuffed French toast!